Salt suitable for an acid generator and a chemically amplified resist composition containing the same

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a salt of the formula (I):  
                 
 
wherein ring Y represents monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, in which one —CH 2 — group is substituted with —COO— group, and at least one hydrogen atom in the monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group may optionally be substituted with alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, hydroxyl group or cyano group; Q 1  and Q 2  each independently represent fluorine atom or perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; A +  represents organic counter ion; and n shows an integer of 0 to 12. 
The present invention also provides a chemically amplified resist composition comprising the salt of the formula (I).

This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 2005-9486 filed in JAPAN on Mar. 30, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a salt suitable for an acid generator used for a chemically amplified resist composition which is used in fine processing of semiconductors, and a chemically amplified resist composition containing the salt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A chemically amplified resist composition used for semiconductor microfabrication employing a lithography process contains an acid generator comprising a compound generating an acid by irradiation.

In semiconductor microfabrication, it is desirable to form patterns having improved pattern profiles and having high resolution and, and it is expected for a chemically amplified resist composition to give such patterns.

Recently, a chemically amplified resist composition containing triphenylsulfonium 1-adamant anemethoxycarbonyldifluoromethansufonate, p-tolyldiphenylsulfonium perfluorooctanesulfonate, and the like are proposed (e.g. JP2004-4561-A), and a salt providing a chemically amplified resist composition giving patterns having better pattern profiles and higher resolution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objects of the present invention are to provide a salt suitable for an acid generator capable of providing chemically amplified resist compositions giving patterns having better resolution and having improved pattern profiles and a process for producing the salt.

Another objects of the present invention are to provide synthetic intermediates for the salts and to provide a process for producing the synthetic intermediates or the salts.

Still another object of the present invention are to provide a chemically amplified resist composition containing the salts.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

The present invention relates to the followings:

-   <1> A salt of the formula (I):     wherein ring Y represents monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group     having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, in which one —CH₂— group is substituted     with —COO— group, and at least one hydrogen atom in the monocyclic     or polycyclic hydrocarbon group may optionally be substituted with     alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, alkoxy group having 1 to 6     carbon atom perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms,     hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, hydroxyl group or     cyano group; Q¹ and Q² each independently represent fluorine atom or     perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom; A⁺ represents     organic counter ion; and n shows an integer of 0 to 12. Hereinafter,     The salt of the formula (I) may be referred to as Salt (I). -   <2> The salt according to <1>, wherein each of Q¹ and Q² is fluorine     atom or trifluoromethyl group. -   <3> The salt according to <1> or <2>, wherein A⁺ is at least one     cation selected from the group consisting of the formula (IIa), the     formula (IIb), the formula (IIc) and the formula (IId).     A cation of the formula (IIa)     wherein P¹, P² and P³ each independently represent hydrogen atom,     hydroxyl group, alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or alkoxy     group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms,     A cation of the formula (IIb)     wherein P⁴ and P⁵ each independently represent hydrogen atom,     hydroxyl group, alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or alkoxy     group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.     The formula (IIc)     wherein P⁶ and P⁷ each independently represent alkyl having 1 to 12     carbon atoms or cycloalkyl having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, or P⁶ and P⁷     bond to form divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12     carbon atoms which forms a ring together with the adjacent S⁺, and     at least one —CH₂— in the divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group is     optionally substituted by —CO—, —O— or —S—, P⁸ represents hydrogen,     P⁹ represents alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 3     to 12 carbon atoms or aromatic ring group optionally substituted, or     P⁸ and P⁹ bond to form divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group which     forms 2-oxocycloalkyl together with the adjacent —CHCO—, and at     least one —CH₂— in the divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group is     optionally substituted by —CO—, —O— or —S—.     A cation of the formula (IId)     wherein P¹⁰, P¹¹, P¹², P¹³, P¹⁴, P¹⁵, P¹⁶, P¹⁷, P¹⁸, P¹⁹, P²⁰ and     P²¹ each independently represent hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group,     alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or alkoxy group having 1 to     12 carbon atoms, B represents sulfur atom or oxygen atom, and m     represents 0 or 1. -   <4> The salt according to any of <1> to <3>, when A⁺ is a counter     ion of the formula (IIe):     wherein P²², P²³ and P²⁴ each independently represent hydrogen atom     or alkyl group having 1 to 4 atoms. -   <5> The salt according to any of <1> to <4>, wherein the ring Y is     monovalent residue of a compound shown by the formulae (IIIa),     (IIIb) or (IIIc)     wherein X¹, X² and X³ each independently represent (a) alkylene     group or (b) no bonding and hydrogen atom in each side, l shows an     integer of 1 to 4, k shows an integer of 0 to 2, and at least one     hydrogen atom in the formulae (IIIa), (IIIb) and (IIIc) may     optionally be substituted with alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon     atom, alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, perfluoroalkyl group     having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon     atoms, hydroxyl group or cyano group. -   <6> The salt according to any of <1> to <5> wherein the salt is the     one of the formula (IVa) or (IVb)     wherein P²², P²³ and P²⁴ have the same meanings as defined above. -   <7> An ester compound of the formula (V)     wherein M represents Li, Na, K or Ag, and the ring Y, Q¹, Q² and n     have the same meanings as defined above. -   <8> The ester compound according to <7>, wherein each of Q¹ and Q²     is fluorine atom or trifluoromethyl group. -   <9> A process for producing an ester compound of the formula (V),     which comprises esterifying an alcohol of the formula (VI)     wherein the ring Y and n have the same meanings as defined above,     with an carboxylic acid of the formula (VII)     wherein the ring M, Q¹ and Q² have the same meanings as defined     above. -   <10> A process for producing a Salt (I), which comprises reacting an     ester compound of the formula (V) with a compound of the formula     (VIII)     A⁺ Z⁻  (VIII)     wherein Z represents F, Cl, Br, I, BF₄, AsF₆, SbF₆ or ClO₄ and A⁺     has the same meaning as defined above. -   <11> A chemically amplified resist composition comprising Salt (I),     and     a resin which contains a structural unit having an acid-labile group     and which itself is insoluble or poorly soluble in an alkali aqueous     solution but becomes soluble in an alkali aqueous solution by the     action of an acid. -   <12> The composition according to <11>, wherein each of Q¹ and Q² is     fluorine atom or trifluoromethyl group. -   <13> The composition according to <11> or <12>, wherein the resin     contains a structural unit derived from a monomer having a bulky and     acid-labile group. -   <14> The composition according to <13>, wherein the bulky and     acid-labile group is 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl group or     1-(1-adamantyl)-1-alkylalkyl group. -   <15> The composition according to <13>, wherein the monomer having     bulky and acid-labile group is 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl(meth)acrylate,     1-(1-adamantyl)-1-alkylalkyl(meth)acrylate, 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl     5-norbornene-2-carboxylate, 1(1-adamantyl)-1-alkylalkyl     5-norbornene-2-carboxylate, 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl a-chloroacrylate or     1-(1-adamantyl)-1-alkylalkyl a-chloroacrylate. -   <16> The composition according to any of <11> to <15>, wherein the     composition further comprises a basic compound. -   <17> The composition according to any of <11> to <16>, wherein A⁺ is     at least one cation selected from the group consisting of the     formula (IIa), the formula (IIb), the formula (IIc) and the formula     (IId). -   <18> The composition according to any of <11> to <17>, wherein A⁺ is     a counter ion of the formula (IIe). -   <19> The composition according to any of <11> to <18>, wherein the     ring Y is monovalent residue of a compound shown by the formulae     (IIIa), (IIIb) or (IIIc). -   <20> The composition according to any of <11> to <19>, wherein the     salt is the one of the formula (IVa) or (IVb).

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In Salt (I), the ring Y represents monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group, in which one —CF₂— group is substituted with —COO— group, and the ring Y has 3 to 30 carbon atoms. At least one hydrogen atom in the monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group may optionally be substituted with alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, hydroxyl group or cyano group.

Q¹ and Q² each independently represent fluorine atom or perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as trifluoromethyl group, pentafluoroethyl group, heptafluoropropyl group, nonafluorobutyl group, undecafluoropentyl group, tridecafluorohexyl group, and the like.

Examples of the ring Y include monovalent residue of compound shown by the formula (IIIa), (IIIb) or (IIIc).

In the formulae (IIIa), (IIIb) and (IIIc), X¹, X² and X³ each independently represent (a) alkylene group or (b) no bonding and hydrogen atom in each side, l shows an integer of 1 to 4, k shows in integer of 0 to 2. At least one hydrogen atom in the formulae (IIIa), (IIIb) and (IIIc) may optionably be substituted with alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, hydroxyl group or cyano group,

Examples of the alkylene group in X¹, X² and X³ include methylene group, ethylene group, and the like. No bonding and hydrogen atom in each side means bridge —X¹—, —X²— or —X³— does not exist and hydrogen atom is bonded in each side of the position of, —X¹—, —X²—or —X³—.

Specific examples of the monovalent residue of compound shown by the formula (IIIa), (IIIb) or (IIIc) include the followings.

In the formulae above, straight line with an open end shows a bond which is extended from an adjacent group.

Specific examples of anion part of the salt (I) include the followings.

A⁺ in Salt (I) represents an organic counter ion. Examples thereof include the following cations of the formulae (IIa), (IIb), (IIc) and (IId).

In the cation of the formula (IIa), P¹, P² and P³ each independently represent hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.

Examples of the alkyl group in the formula (IIa) include methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, isopropyl group, butyl group, tert-butyl group, pentyl group, hexyl group, octyl group, 2-ethylhexyl group, and the like, and examples of the alkoxy group include methoxy group, ethoxy group, propoxy group, butoxy group, hexyloxy group, octyloxy group, 2-ethylhexyloxy group, and the like.

In the cation of the formula (IIa), the one of the formula (IIe) above is preferred for the easiness of production.

In the cation of the formula (IIb), P⁴ and P⁵ each independently represent hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms. Examples of the alkyl group and alkoxy group include the same groups as mentioned in the formula (IIa) above.

In the cation of the formula (IIc) P⁶ and P⁷ each independently represent alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or cycloalkyl having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, or P⁶ and P⁷ bond to form divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms which forms a ring together with the adjacent S⁺, and at least one —CH₂— in the divalent acyclic hydrocarbon may be substituted by —CO—, —O— or —S—.

P⁸ represents hydrogen, P⁹ represents alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 3 to 12 carbon atoms or aromatic ring group optionally substituted, or P⁸ and P⁹ bond to form divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group which forms 2-oxocycloalkyl together with the adjacent —CHCO—, and at least one —CH₂— in the divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group may be substituted by —CO—, —O— or —S—.

In P⁶, P⁷ and P⁸, specific examples of the alkyl group include methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, isopropyl group, butyl group, tert-butyl group, pentyl group, hexyl group, and the like, and specific examples of the cycloalkyl group include cyclopropyl group, cyclobutyl group, cyclopentyl group, cyclohexyl group, cycloheptyl group, cyclodecyl group, and the like. Specific examples of the divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms formed by bonding P⁶ and P⁷ include methylene group, ethylene group, trimethylene group, tetramethylene group, pentamethylene group, and the like, and specific examples of the ring group formed by adjacent S⁺ and divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group by P⁶ and P⁷ include pentamethylenesulfonio group, tetramethylenesulfonio group, oxybisethylenesulfonio group, and the like. In P⁹, specific examples of the aromatic ring group include phenyl, tolyl, xylyl, naphtyl and the like. Specific examples of the divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group formed by bonding P⁸ and P⁹ include methylene group, ethylene group, trimethylene group, tetramethylene group, pentamethylene group, and the like, and specific examples of the 2-oxocycloalkyl formed by bonding P⁸ and P⁹ together with the adjacent —CHCO— include 2-oxocyclohexyl, 2-oxocyclopentyl and the like.

In the cation of the formula (IId), P¹⁰, P¹¹, P¹², P¹³, P¹⁴, P¹⁵, P¹⁶, P¹⁷, P¹⁸, P¹⁹, P²⁰ and P²¹ each independently represent hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, B represents sulfur atom or oxygen atom, and m represents 0 or 1. Examples of the alkyl group and alkoxy group include the same groups as mentioned in the formula (IIa) above.

Specific examples of the formula (IIa) include the following;

Specific examples of the formula (IIb) include the following:

Specific examples of the formula (IIc) include the following:

Specific examples of the cation of the formula (IId) include the following:

As Salt (I), the salts of the formulae (IVa) and (IVb) are preferred for the excellent resolution and pattern profile.

In the formulae (IVa) and (IVb), P²⁵, P²⁶ and P²⁷ each independently represent hydrogen atom or alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom.

Examples of the process for production of Salt (I) include a process comprising reacting a salt of the formula (V) with a compound of the formula (VIII), for example, in an inert solvent such as acetonitrile, water, methanol, dichloromethane, and the like, at a temperature of about 0 to 150° C., preferably of 0 to 100° C., with stirring.

The amount of the compound of the formula (VIII) is usually 0.5 to 2 mols per 1 mol of the salt of the formula (V). Salt (I) obtained by the process above can be isolated by recrystallization, and can be purified by washing with water.

The salt of the formula (V) used for the production of Salt (I) can be produced for example, by a process comprising esterifying an alcohol of the formula (VI) with a carboxylic acid of the formula (VII).

The esterification reaction can generally be carried out by mixing materials in an aprot c solvent such as dichloroethane, toluene, ethylbenzene, monochlorobenzene, acetonitrile, N,N-dimethylformamide, and the like, at 20 to 200° C., preferably 50 to 150° C. In the esterification reaction, an acid catalyst or a dehydrating agent is usually added, and examples of 5the acid catalyst include organic acids such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, inorganic acids such as sulfuric acid, and the like. Examples of the dehydrating agent include 1,1′-carbonyldimidazole, N,N′-dicylohexylcarbodimide, and the like.

The esterification using acid catalyst may preferably be carried out with dehydration, for example, by Dean and Stark method as the reaction time tends to be shortened.

The amount of the carboxylic acid of the formula (VII) is usually 0.2 to 3 mol, preferably 0.5 to 2 mol per 1 mol of the alcohol of the formula (VI). The amount of the acid catalyst may be catalytic amount or the amount equivalent to solvent, and is usually 0.001 to 5 mol per 1 mol of the alcohol of the formula (VI). The amount of the dehydrating agent is usually 0.2 to 5 mol, preferably 0.5 to 3 mol per 1 mol of the alcohol of the formula (VI).

The present chemically amplified resist composition comprises Salt (I) and a resin which contains a structural unit having an acid-labile group and which itself is insoluble or poorly soluble in an alkali aqueous solution but becomes soluble in an alkali aqueous solution by the action of an acid.

Salt (I) is usually used as an acid generator, and the acid generated by irradiation to Salt (I) catalytically acts against acid-labile groups in a resin, cleaves the acid-labile-group, and the resin becomes soluble in an alkali aqueous solution. Such a composition is suitable for chemically amplified positive resist composition.

The resin used for the present composition contains a structural unit having an acid-labile group and which itself is insoluble or poorly soluble in an alkali aqueous solution, but acid-labile group cleave by an acid. The resin after the cleavage contains carboxylic acid residue and as a result, the resin becomes soluble in an alkali aqueous solution.

In the present specification, “—COOR” may be described as “a structure having ester of carboxylic acid”, and may also be abbreviated as “ester group”. Specifically, “—CHOOC(CH₃)₃” may be described as “a structure having tert-butyl ester of carboxylic acids, or be abbreviated as “tert-butyl ester group”.

Examples of the acid-labile group include a structure having ester of carboxylic acid such as alkyl ester group in which a carbon atom adjacent to the oxygen atom is quaternary carbon atom, and alicyclic ester group in which a carbon atom adjacent to the oxygen atom is quaternary carbon atom, and the like, a lactone ring group in which a carbon atom adjacent to the oxygen atom is quaternary carbon atom, and the like.

The “quaternary carbon atom” means a “carbon atom joined to four substituents other than hydrogen atom”. As the acid-labile group, a group having a quaternary carbon atom joined to three carbon atoms and a OR′, wherein R′ represents alkyl group.

Examples of the acid-labile group include alkyl ester group in which a carbon atom adjacent to the oxygen atom is quaternary carbon atom such as tert-butyl ester group; acetal type ester group such as methoxymethyl ester group, ethoxymethyl ester group, 1-ethoxyethyl ester group, 1-isobutoxyethyl ester group, 1-isopropoxyethyl ester group, 1-ethoxypropoxy ester group 1-(2-methoxyethoxyethyl ester, 1-(2-acetoxyethoxyethyl ester group, 1-[2-(1-adamantyloxy)ethoxy]ethyl ester group, 1-[2-1-adamantanecarbonyloxy)ethoxy]ethyl ester group, tetrahydro-2-furyl ester and tetrahydro-2-pyranyl ester group; alicyclic ester group in which a carbon atom adjacent to the oxygen atom is quaternary carbon atom, such as isobomyl ester group, 1-alkylcycloalkyl ester group, 2-alkyl-adamantyl ester group, 1-(1-adamantyl)-1-alkylalkyl ester group, and the like.

Examples of structures including the ester group include ester of (meth)acrylic acid structure, ester of norbornenecarboxylic acid structure, ester of tricyclodecenecarboxylic acid structure, tetracyclodecenecarboxylic acid structure, and the like. At least one hydrogen atom in the adamantyl group above may be substituted by hydroxyl group.

The resin used for the present composition can be obtained by addition polymerization of monomer(s) having an acid-labile group and olefinic double bond.

Among the monomer it is preferable to use those having a bulky group such as alicyclic group (e.g. 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl and 1-(1-adamantyl)-1-alkylalkyl), as the group dissociated by the action of an acid, since excellent resolution is obtained when used in the present composition.

Examples of such monomer containing a bulky group include 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl(meth)acrylate, 1(1-adamantyl)-1-alkylalkyl(meth)acrylate, 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl 5-norbornene-2carboxylate, 1-(1-adamantyl)-1-alkylalkyl 5-norbornene-2-carboxylate, 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl α-chloroacrylate, 1-(1-adamantyl)-1-alkylalkyl α-chloroacrylate and the like.

Particularly when 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl(meth)acrylate or 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl α-chloroacrylate is used as the monomer for the resin component in the present composition, resist composition having excellent resolution tend to be obtained. Typical examples of such 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl(meth)acrylate and 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl α-chloroacrylate include 2-methyl-2-adamantyl acrylate, 2-methyl-2-adamantyl methacrylate, 2-ethyl-2-adamantyl acrylate, 2-ethyl-2-adamantyl methacrylate, 2-n-butyl-2-adamantyl acrylate, 2-methyl-2-adamantyl α-chloroacrylate, 2-ethyl-2-adamantyl α-chloroacrylate and the like. When particularly 2ethyl-2-adamantyl(meth)acrylate or 2-isopropyl-2-adamantyl(meth)acrylate is used for the present composition, composition having excellent sensitivity and heat resistance tends to be obtained In the present invention, two or more kind of monomers having group dissociated by the action of an acid may be used together, if necessary.

2-Alkyl-2-adamantyl(meth)acrylate can usually be produced by reacting 2-alkyl-2-adamantanol or metal salt thereof with an acrylic halide or methacrylic halide.

The resin used for the present composition can also contain, in addition to the above-mentioned structural units having an acid-labile group, other structural unit derived from acid-stable monomer. Herein, the “structural unit derived from acid-stable monomer” means “a structural unit not dissociated by an acid generated from Salt (I)”.

Examples of such other structural units which can be contained include structural units derived from monomers having a free carboxyl group such as acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, structural units derived from aliphatic unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydrides such as maleic anhydride and itaconic anhydride, structural units derived from 2-norbornene, structural units derived from (meth)acrylonitrile, structural units derived from alkyl(meth)acrylate in which a carbon atom adjacent to oxygen atom is secondary or tertiary carbon atom, structural units derived from 1-adamantyl(meth)acrylate, structural units derived from styrenes such as p- or m-hydroxystyrene, structural units derived from (meth)acryloyloxy-γ-butyrolactone having a lactone ring optionally substituted by alkyl, and the like. Herein, 1-adamantyl ester group is a acid-stable group though the carbon atom adjacent to oxygen atom is a quaternary carbon atom, and at least one hydrogen atom on 1-adamanty ester group may be substituted by hydroxy group.

Specific examples of structural unit derived from acid-stable monomer include a structural unit derived from 3-hydroxyl-1-adamantyl(meth)acrylate, a structural unit derived from 3,5-dihydroxy-1-adamantyl(meth)acrylate, a structural unit derived from α-(meth)acryloyloxy-γ-butyrolactone, a structural unit derived from β-(meth)acryloyloxy-γ-butyrolactone, a structural unit of the following formula (a), a structural unit derived from the following formula (b), a structural unit derived from alicyclic compound having olefinic double bond such as a structural unit of the following formula (c), a structural unit derived from aliphalic unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydride such as a structural unit of the formula (d), a structural unit of the formula (e), and the like.

Particularly, to contain, in addition to the structural unit having an acid-labile group, further at least one structural unit selected from the group consisting of a structural unit derived from p-hydroxystyrene, a structural unit derived from m-hydroxystyrene, a structural unit derived from 3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl(meth)acrylate, a structural unit derived from 3,5-dihydroxy-1-adamantyl(meth)acrylate, a structural unit of the following formula (a) and a structural unit of the following formula (b), in the resin in the present composition, is preferable from the standpoint of the adhesiveness of resist to a substrate and resolution of resist.

In the formulae (a) and (b), R¹ and R² each independently represent hydrogen atom, methyl group or trifluoromethyl group and R³ and R⁴ each independently represent methyl group, trifluoromethyl group or halogen atom, and p and q each independently represent an integer of 0 to 3. When p represents 2 or 3, each of the R³ nay be the same or different and when q represents 2 or 3, each of the R⁴ may be the same or different

3Hydroxy-1-adamantyl(meth)acrylate and 3,5-dihydroxy-1-adamantyl(meth)acrylate can be produced, for example, by reacting corresponding hydroxyadamantane with (meth)acrylic acid or its acid halide, and they are also commercially available.

Further, (meth)acryloyloxy-γ-butyrolactone having a lactone ring optionally substituted by alkyl can be produced by reacting corresponding α- or βbromo-γ-butyrolactone with acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, or reacting corresponding α- or β-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone with acrylic halide or methacrylic halide.

As monomers to give structural units of the formulae (a) and (b), specifically listed are, for example, (meth)acrylates of alicyclic lactones having hydroxyl described below, and mixtures thereof, and the like. These esters can be produced, for example, by reacting corresponding alicyclic lactone having hydroxyl with (meth)acrylic acids, and the production method thereof is described in, for example, JP2000-26446A.

Examples of the (meth)acryloyloxy-γ-butyrolactone having a lactone ring optionally substituted by alkyl include α-acryloyloxy-γ-butyrolactone, α-methacryloyloxy-γ-butyrolactone, α-acryloyloxy-β,β-dimethyl-γ-butyrolactone, α-methacryloyloxy-β,β-dimethyl-γ-butyrolactone, α-acryloyloxy-α-methyl-γ-butyrolactone, α-methacryloyloxy-α-methyl-γ-butyrolactone, β-acryloyloxy-γ-butyrolactone, β-methacryloyloxy-γ-butyrolactone, β-methacryloyloxy-α-methyl-γ-butyrolactone and the like.

In the case of KrF lithography, even in the case of using a structure unit derived from hydroxystyrene such as p- and m-hydroxystyrene, as one of the resin components, resist composition having sufficient transparency can be obtained. For obtaining such copolymerization resins, the corresponding (meth)acrylic ester monomer can be radical-polymerized with acetoxystyrene and styrene, and then the acetoxy group in the structure unit derived from acetoxystyrene can be de-acetylated with an acid.

The resin containing a structural unit derived from 2-norbornene shows strong structure because alicyclic group is directly present on its main chain and shows a property that dry etching resistance is excellent. The structural unit derived from 2-norbornene can be introduced into the main chain by radical polymerization using, for example, in addition to corresponding 2-norbornene, aliphatic unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydrides such as maleic anhydride and itaconic anhydride together. The structural unit derived from 2-norbornene is formed by opening of its double bond, and can be represented by the formula (c). The structural unit derived from maleic anhydride and the subdural unit derived from itaconic anhydride which are the structural unit derived from aliphatic unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydrides are formed by opening of their double bonds, and can be represented by the formula (d) and the formula (e), respectively.

Here, R⁵ and R⁶ in the formula (c) each independently represent hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, carboxyl, cyano or —COOU group in which U represents alcohol residue, or R⁵ and R⁶ can bond together to form a carboxylic anhydride residue represented by —C(═O)OC(═O)—.

In R¹ and R⁶, examples of the alkyl include methyl, ethyl, propyl and isopropyl, specific examples of hydroxyalkyl include hydroxymethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl and the like.

In R⁵ and R⁶, —COOU group is an ester formed from carboxyl, and as the alcohol residue corresponding to U, for example, optionally substituted alkyls having about 1 to 8 carbon atoms, 2-oxooxolan-3- or 4-yl and the like are listed, and as the substituent on the alkyl, hydroxyl, alicyclic hydrocarbon residues and the like are listed.

Specific examples of the monomer used to give the structural unit represented by the formula (c) nay include the followings;

2-norbornene,

2-hydroxy-5-norbornene,

5-norbornen-2-carboxylic acid,

methyl 5-norbornen-2-carboxylate,

2-hydroxyethyl 5-norbornen-2-carboxylate,

5-norbornen-2-methanol,

5-norbornen-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride, and the like.

When U in —COOU is acid-labile group, the structural unit of the formula (c) is a structural unit having acid-labile group even if it has norbornene structure. Examples of monomers giving structural unit having acid-labile group include t-butyl 5-norbornen-2-carboxylate, 1-cyclohexyl-1-methylethyl 5-norbornen-2-carboxylate, 1-methylcyclohexyl 5-norbornen-2-carboxylate, 2,methyl-2-adamantyl 5-norbornen-2-carboxylate, 2-ethyl2-adamantyl 5-norbornen-2-carboxylate, 1-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-1--methylethyl 5-norbornen-2-carboxylate, 1-(4hydroxylcyclohexyl)-1-methylethyl 5-norbornen-2-carboxylate, 1-methyl-1-(4-oxocylohexyl)ethyl 5-norbornen-2-carboxylate, 1-(1-adamantyl)-1-methylethyl 5-norbornen-2-carboxylate, and the like.

The resin used in the present composition preferably contains structural unit(s) having an acid-labile group generally in a ratio of 10 to 80% by mol in all structural units of the resin though the ratio varies depending on the kind of radiation for patterning exposure, the kind of an acid-labile group, and the like.

When the structural units particularly derived from 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl(meth)acrylate or 1-(1-adamantyl)-1-alkylalkyl(meth)acrylate are used as the acid-labile group, it is advantageous that the ratio of the structural units is 15% by mol or more in all structural units of the resin.

When, in addition to structural units having an acid-labile group, other structural units having acid-stable group are contained, it is preferable that the sum of these structural units is in the range of 20 to 90% by mol based on all structural units of the resin.

When alicyclic compound having olefinic double bond and aliphatic unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydride are used as copolymerization monomer, it is preferable to use them in excess amount in view of a tendency that these are not easily polymerized.

In the present composition, performance deterioration caused by inactivation of acid which occurs due to post exposure delay can be diminished by adding basic compounds, particularly, basic nitrogen-containing organic compounds, for example, amines as a quencher.

Specific examples of such basic nitrogen-containing organic compounds include the ones represented by the following formulae:

In the formulas, T¹² and T¹³ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group or an aryl group. The alkyl group preferably has about 1 to 6 carbon atoms, the cycloalkyl group preferably has about 5 to 10 carbon atoms, and the aryl group preferably has about 6 to 10 carbon atoms. Furthermore, at least one hydrogen atom on the alkyl group, cycloalkyl group or aryl group may each independently be substituted with hydroxyl group, amino group, or alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. At least one hydrogen atom on the amino group may each independently be substituted with alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

T¹⁴, T¹⁵ and T¹⁶ independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group or an alkoxy group. The alkyl group preferably has about 1 to 6 carbon atoms, the cycloalkyl group preferably has about 5 to 10 carbon atoms, the aryl group preferably has about 6 to 10 carbon atoms, and the alkoxy group preferably has about 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Furthermore, at least one hydrogen atom on the alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, aryl group or alkoxy group may each independently be substituted with hydroxyl group, amino group, or alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. At least one hydrogen atom on the amino group may be substituted with alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

T¹⁷ represents an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group. The alkyl group preferably has about 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and the cycloalkyl group preferably has about 5 to 10 carbon atoms. Furthermore, at least one hydrogen atom on the alkyl group or cycloalkyl group may each independently be substituted with hydroxyl group, amino group, or alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. At least one hydrogen atom on the amino group may be substituted with alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

In the formulas, T¹⁸ represents an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group or an aryl group. The alkyl group preferably has about 1 to 6 carbon atoms, the cycloalkyl group preferably has about 5 to 10 carbon atoms, and the aryl group preferably has about 6 to 10 carbon atoms. Furthermore, at least one hydrogen atom on the alkyl group, cycloalkyl group or aryl group may each independently be substituted with a hydroxyl group, an amino group, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. At least one hydrogen atom on the amino group may each independently be substituted with group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

However, none of T¹² and T¹³ in the compound represented by the above formula [3] is a hydrogen atom.

A represents alkylene group, carbonyl group, imino group, sulfide group or disulfide group. The alkylene group preferably has about 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

Moreover, among T¹²-T18, in regard to those which can be straight-chained or branched, either of these may be permitted.

T¹⁹, T²⁰ and T²¹ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an aminoalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or T¹⁹ and T²⁰ bond to form an alkylene group which forms a lactam ring together with adjacent —CO—N—.

Examples of such compounds include hexylamine, heptylamine, octylamine, nonylamine, decylamine, aniline, 2-, 3 or 4-methylaniline, ethylenediamine, tetramethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine, 4,4′-diamino-1,2-diphenylethane, 4,4′-diamino-3,3′-dimethyldiphenylmethane, 4,4′-diamino-3,3′-diethyldiphenylmethane, dibutylamine, dipentylamine, dihexylamine, diheptylamine, dioctylamine, dinonylamine, didecylamine, N-methylamine, piperidine, diphenylamine, triethylamine, trimethylamine, tripropylamine, tributylamine, tripentylamine, trihexylamine, triheptylamine, trioctylamine, trinonylamine, tridecylamine, methyldibutylamine, methyldipentylamine, methyldihexylamine, methyldicyclohexylamine, methyldiheptylamine, methyldioctylamine, methyldinonylamine, methyldidecylamine, ethyldibutylamine, ethydipentylamine, ethyldihexylamine, ethydiheptylamine, ethyldioctylamine, ethyldinonylamine, ethyldidecylamine, dicyclohexylmethylamine, tris[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl]amine, triisopropanolamine, N,N-dimethylaniline, 2,6-isopropylaniline, pyridine, 4-methylpyridine, bipyridine, 2,2′-dipyridylamine, di-2-pyridyl ketone, 1,2-di(2-pyridyl)ethane, 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethane, 1,3-di(4-pyridyl)propane, 1,2-bis(2-pyridyl)ethylene, 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene, 4,4′-dipyridyl sulfide, 4,4′-cipyridyl disulfide, 1,2-bis(4-pyridyI)ethylene, 2,2′-dipicolylamine, 3,3′-dipicolylamine, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, tetraisopropylammonium hydroxide, tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, tetra-n-hexylammonium hydroxide, tetra-n-octylammonium hydroxide, phenyltrimethylammonium hydroxide, 3-trifluoromethylphenyltrimethylammonium hydroxide, (2-hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium hydroxide (so-called “choline”), N-methylpyrrolidone, and the like.

Furthermore, hindered amine compounds having piperidine skeleton as disclosed in JP-A-H11-52575 can be used as quencher.

It is preferable that the present composition contains resin component m an amount of about 80 to 99.9% by weight and Salt (I) in an amount of 0.1 to 20% by weight on the total amount of the resin component and Salt (I).

When basic compound is used as a quencher, the basic compound is contained preferably in an amount of about 0.01 to 1 part by weight per 100 parts by weight of sum of resin component and Salt (I).

The present composition can contain, if necessary, various additives in small amount such is a sensitizer, solution suppressing agent, other polymers, surfactant, stabilizer, dye and the like, as long as the effect of the present invention is not prevented.

The present composition is usually in the form of a resist liquid composition in which the aforementioned ingredients are dissolved in a solvent, and the resist liquid composition is to be applied onto a substrate such as a silicon wafer by a conventional process such as spin coating. The solvent used here is sufficient to solve the aforementioned ingredients, have an adequate drying rate, and give a uniform and smooth coat after evaporation of the solvent and, hence, solvents generally used in the art can be used. In the present invention, the total solid content means total content exclusive of solvents.

Examples thereof include glycol ether esters such as ethyl Cellosolve acetate, methyl Cellosolve acetate and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate; glycol ethers such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether, di(ethylene glycol)dimethyl ether, esters such as ethyl lactate, butyl lactate, amyl lactate and ethyl pyruvate and the like; ketones such as acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone, 2-heptanone and cyclohexanone; cyclic esters such as γ-butyrolactone, and the like. These solvents can be used each alone or in combination of two or more.

A resist film applied onto the substrate and then dried is subjected to exposure for patterning, then heat-treated for facilitating a deblocking reaction, and thereafter developed with an alkali developer. The alkali developer used here may be any one of various alkaline aqueous solutions used in the art, and generally, an aqueous solution of tetramethylammonium hydroxide or (2-hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium hydroxide (commonly known as “choline”) is often used.

It should be construed that embodiments disclosed here are examples in all aspects and not restrictive. It is intended that the scope of the present invention is determined not by the above descriptions but by appended Claims, and includes all variations of the equivalent meanings and ranges to the Claims.

The present invention will be described more specifically by way of examples, which are not construed to limit the scope of the present invention. The “%” and “part(s)” used to represent the content of any component and the amount of any material used in the following examples and comparative examples are on a weight basis unless otherwise specifically noted. The weight-average molecular weight of any material used in the following examples is a value found by gel permeation chromatography [HLC-8120GPC Type, Column (Three Columns): TSKgel Multipore HXL-M, Solvent: Tetrahydrofuran, manufactured by TOSOH CORPORATION] using styrene as a standard reference material. Structures of compounds were determined by NMR (GX-270 Type, or EX-270 Type, manufactured by JEOLLTD) and mass spectrometry (Liquid Chromatography: 1100 Type, manufactured by AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES LTD, Mass Spectrometry; LC/MSD Type or LC/MSD TOF Type, manufactured by AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES LID.).

SYNTHETIC EXAMPLE 1 Synthesis of triphenylsugfonium 4oxo-1-(hexahydro-2-oxo-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-6-yloxycarbonyl)difluromethanesulfonate

-   (1) 230 Parts of 30% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added     into a mixture of 100 parts of methyl difluoro(fluorsulfonyl)acetate     and 250 parts of ion-exchanged water in a ice bath. The added     mixture was heated and refluxed at 100° C. for 3 hours. After     cooling, the cooled mixture was neutralized with 88 parts of conc.     hydrochloric acid and concentrated to obtain 164.8 parts of sodium     difluorosulfoacetate (containing inorganic salt, purity: 62.6%). -   (2) 30.0 Parts of sodium difluorosulfoacetate (purity: 62.8%), 14.7     parts of hexahydro-6-hydroxy-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-2-one     and 300 parts of toluene were charged in a vessel, 18.1 parts of     p-toluenesulfonic acid, which may be abbreviated as p-TsOH, was     added thereto, and the mixture was refluxed for 12 hours. After     cooling, the resultant mixture was filtrated to obtain solids, and     to the solids was added 100 parts of acetonitrile, then filtered to     obtain solution. The solution was concentrated to obtain 26.7 parts     of sodium salt of     hexahydro-2-oxo-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-6-yl     difluorosulfoacetate.

²H-NMR(dimethylsulfoxide-d₆, Internal Standard: tetramethylsilane):d(ppm) 157-1.67 (m, 2H); 1.91-2.06 (m, 2H); 253 (dd, 1H); 3.21 (td, 1H); 4.51 (d, 1H); 4.62 (s, 1H)

-   (3) 26.7 Parts of sodium salt of     hexahydro-2-oxo-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-6-yl     difluorosulfoacetate obtained in (2) was charged and dissolved in     267 parts of acetonitrile to obtain a solution. To the solution was     added a solution prepared by mixing 23.9 parts of triphenylsulfonium     chloride and 239 parts of ion-exchanged water. After stirred for 15     hours the stirred mixture was concentrated and extracted with 200     parts of chloroform twice. The organic layers were combined and the     combined organic layer was washed with ion-exchanged water. The     obtained organic layer was concentrated. The concentrate was washed     with 200 parts of tert-butyl methyl ether and the solvent was     decanted to obtain 37.7 parts of triphenylsulfonium     4-oxo-1-(hexahydro-2-oxo-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-6-yloxycarbonyl)difluoromethanesulfonate,     which is called as acid generator B1.

¹H-NMR(dimethylsulfoxide-d₆, Internal Standard: tetramethylsilane):d(ppm) 1.57-1.67 (m, 2H); 1.91-2.06 (m, 2H); 2.53 (dd, 1H); 3.21 (td, 1H); 4.51 (d, 1H); 7.91-7.76 (m, 15H)

MS (ESI(+) Spectrum): M+263.2 (C₁₈H₁₅S⁺=263.09)

MS (ESI(−) Spectrum): M−311.0 (C₁₀H₉F₂O₇S⁻=311.00)

REFERENTIAL SYNTHETIC EXAMPLE 1 Synthesis of triphenylsulfonium 1-adamantylmethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate

-   (1) 230 Parts of 30% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added     into a mixture of 100 parts of methyl     difluoro(fluorosulfonyl)acetate and 250 parts of ion-exchanged water     in a ice bath. The added mixture was heated and refluxed at 100° C.     for 3 hours. After cooling the cooled mixture was neutralized with     88 parts of conc. hydrochloric acid and concentrated to obtain 164.8     parts of sodium difluorosulfoacetate (containing inorganic salt,     purity: 62.6%). -   (2) 39.4 Parts of sodium difluorosulfoacetate (purity: 63.5%), 21.0     parts of 1-adamantanemethanol and 200 parts of dichloroethane were     charged in a vessel, 24.0 parts of p-toluenesulfonic acid was added     thereto, and the mixture was refluxed for 7 hours. After     concentrating the mixture to eliminate dichloroethane, 250 parts of     tert-butyl methyl ether was added thereto, and the added mixture was     stirred. The stirred mixture was filtered to obtain solid. 250 parts     of acetonitrile was added to the solid. The mixture was stirred and     filtrated. The filtrate was concentrated to obtain 32.8 parts of     sodium salt of 1-adamantylmethyl difluorosulfoacetate. -   (3) 32.8 parts of sodium salt of 1-adamantylmethyl     difluorosulfoacetate obtained in (2) was dissolved in 100 parts of     ion-exchanged water. 283 Parts of triphenylsulfonium chloride and     140 parts of methanol were added to the solution. After stirred for     15 hours, the stirred mixture was concentrated and extracted with     200 parts of chloroform twice. The organic layers were mixed and     washed with ion-exchanged water. The obtained organic layer was     concentrated. 300 Parts of tert-butyl methyl ether was added to the     concentrate, the mixture was stirred filtered to obtain solid. The     solid was dried under reduced pressure to obtain 39.7 parts of     triphenylsulfonium     1-adamantylmethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate in the form of     white crystals, which is called as acid generator C1.

¹H-NMR (dimethylsulfoxide-d₆, Internal Standard: tetramethylsilane): d(ppm) 152(d, 6H); 1.63(dd, 6H); 1.93(s, 3H); 3.81(s, 2H); 7.76-7.90(m, 15H)

MS (ESI(+) Spectrum): M+263.2 (C₁₈H₂₅S⁺=263.09)

MS (ESI(−) Spectrum): M−323.0 (C₁₃H₁₇F₂O₅S⁻=323.08)

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLE 1 Synthesis of Resin A1

2-Ethyl-2-adamantyl methacrylate, 3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl methacrylate and α-methacryloyloxy-γ-butyrolactone were charged at a molar ratio of 5:25:2.5 (20.0 parts:9.5 parts: 7.3 parts), and methyl isobutyl ketone in twice weight based on all monomers was added, to prepare solution. To the solution was added azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator in a ratio of 2 mol % based on all monomer molar amount, and the mixture was heated at 80° C. for about 8 hours. Then, the reaction solution was poured into large amount of heptane to cause precipitation, and this operation was repeated three times for purification. As a result, copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight of about 9,200 was obtained. This is called resin A1.

EXAMPLES 1 TO 2 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1 TO 2

The following components were mixed and dissolved, further, filed through a fluorine resin filter having pore diameter of 0.2 μm, to prepare resist liquid.

<Resin>

-   resin A1: 10 parts     <Acid Generator> -   acid generator B1: 0.26 part -   acid generator C1: 0.26 part -   acid generator C2: triphenyl sulfonium perfluorobutanesulfonate 0.25     part -   Kind used in Examples is described in Table 1     <Quencher>

quencher Q1: 2,6-diisopropylaniline 0.0325 part <Solvent> Solvent Y1: propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate 51.5 parts 2-heptanone 35.0 parts γ-butyrolactone  3.5 parts

Silicon wafers were each coated with “ARC-29A-8”, which is an organic anti-reflective coating composition available from Brewer Co., and then baked under the conditions: 215° C., 60 seconds, to form a 780 Å-thick organic anti-reflective coating. Each of the resist liquids prepared as above was spin-coated over the anti-reflective coating so that the thickness of The resulting film became 025 μm after drying. The silicon wafers thus coated with the respective resist liquids were each prebaked on a direct hotplate at a temperature of 130° C. for 60 seconds. Using an ArF excimer stepper (“NSR ArF” manufactured by Nikon Corporation, NA=055, 2/3 Annular), each wafer thus formed with the respective resist film was subjected to line and space pattern exposure, with the exposure quantity being varied stepwise.

After the exposure, each wafer was subjected to post-exposure baking on a hotplate at a temperature of 130° C. for 60 seconds and then to paddle development for 60 seconds with an aqueous solution of 2.38 wt % tetramethylammonium hydroxide.

Each of a dark field pattern developed on the organic anti-reflective coating substrate after the development was observed with a scanning electron microscope, the results of which are shown in Table 1. The term “dark field pattern”, as used herein, means a pattern obtained by exposure and development through a reticle comprising chromium base surface (light-shielding portion) and linear glass layers (light-transmitting portion) formed in the chromium surface and aligned with each other. Thus, the dark field pattern is such that, after exposure and development, resist layer surrounding the line and space pattern remains on substrate.

Resolution:

It is expressed as the minimum size of space pattern which gave the space pattern split by the line pattern at the exposure amount of the effective sensitivity. Herein, the effective sensitivity is expressed by the amount of exposure that the line pattern (light-shielding layer) and the space pattern (light-transmitting layer) become 1:1 after exposure through 0.13 μm line and space pattern mask and development,

Profile T/B

It is expressed by a ratio of top side length (referred to as T) and bottom side length (referred to as B) in line part of 0.13 μm line and space pattern. The closer to 1 the ratio is, the better the profile of its resist pattern is TABLE 1 No. Acid Generator Resolution (μm) Profile T/B Example 1 B1 0.12 1.00 Comparative C1 0.13 0.86 Example 1 Comparative C2 0.13 0.71 Example 2

Apparent from Table 1, the resist composition of Example 1, which accord to the present invention, give better resist pattern in resolution and in pattern profile than those of Comparative Examples.

Salt (I) is suitably used for an acid generator for chemically amplified positive resist composition. The present composition provides excellent resist pattern in resolution and pattern profiles and is especially suitable for ArF excimer laser lithography, KrF excimer laser lithography and ArF immersion lithography. 

1. A salt of the formula (I):

wherein ring Y represents monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, in which one —CH₂— group is substituted with —COO— group, and at least one hydrogen atom in the monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group may optionally be substituted with alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, hydroxyl group or cyano group; Q¹ and Q² each independently represent fluorine atom or perfluoroalkyl group, having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; A⁺ represents organic counter ion; and n shows an integer of 0 to
 12. 2. The salt according to claim 1, wherein each of Q¹ and Q² is fluorine atom or trifluoromethyl group.
 3. The salt according to claim 1, wherein A⁺ is at least one cation selected from the group consisting of the formula (IIa), the formula (IIb), the formula (IIc) and the formula (IId). A cation of the formula (IIa)

wherein P¹, P², and P³ each independently represent hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms. A cation of the formula (IIb)

wherein P⁴ and P⁵ each independently represent hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms. The formula (IIc)

wherein P⁶ and P⁷ each independently represent alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, or P⁶ and P⁷ bond to form divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms which forms a ring together with the adjacent S⁺, and at least one —CH₂— in the divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group is optionally substituted by —CO—, —O— or —S—, P⁸ represents hydrogen, P⁹ represents alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 3 to 12 carbon atoms or aromatic ring group optionally substituted, or P⁸ and P⁹ bond to form divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group which forms 2-oxocycloalkyl together with the adjacent —CHCO—, and at least one —CH— in the divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group is optionally substituted by —CO—, —O— or —S—. A cation of the formula (IId)

wherein P¹⁰, P¹¹, P¹², P¹³, P¹⁴, P¹⁵, P¹⁶, P¹⁷, P¹⁸, P¹⁹, P²⁰ and P²¹ each independently represent hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, B represents sulfur atom or oxygen atom, and m represents 0 or
 1. 4. The salt according to claim 1, wherein A⁺ is a counter ion of the formula (IIe):

wherein P²², P²³ and P²⁴ each independently represent hydrogen atom or alkyl group having 1 to 4 atoms.
 5. The salt according to claim 1, wherein the ring Y is monovalent residue of a compound shown by the formulae (IIIa), (IIIb) or (IIIc)

wherein X¹, X² and X³ each independently represent (a) alkylene group or (b) no bonding and hydrogen atom in each side, l shows an integer of 1 to 4, k shows an integer of 0 to 2, and at least one hydrogen atom in the formulae (IIIa), (IIIb) and (IIIc) may optionally be substituted with alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, hydroxyl group or cyano group.
 6. The salt according to claim 1, wherein the salt is the one of the formula (IVa) or (IVb)

wherein P²², P²³ and P²⁴ have the same meanings as defined above.
 7. An ester compound of the formula (V)

wherein ring Y represents monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, in which one —CH₂— group is substituted with —COO— group, and at least one hydrogen atom in the monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group may optionally be substituted with alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, hydroxyl group or cyano group; Q¹ and Q² each independently represent fluorine atom or perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; M represents Li, Na, K or Ag; and n shows an integer of 0 to
 12. 8. The ester compound according to claim 7, wherein each of Q¹ and Q² is fluorine atom or trifluoromethyl group.
 9. A process for producing an ester compound of the formula (V)

wherein ring Y represents monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, in which one —CH₂— group is substituted with —COO— group, and at least one hydrogen atom in the monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group may optionally be substituted with alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, hydroxyl group or cyano group; Q¹ and Q² each independently represent fluorine atom or perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; M represents Li, Na, K or Ag; and n shows an integer of 0 to
 12. which comprises esterifying an alcohol of the formula (VI)

wherein the ring Y and n have the same meanings as defined above, with an carboxylic acid of the formula (VII)

wherein Q¹and Q² have the same meanings as defined above, and M represents Li, Na, K or Ag.
 10. A process for producing a salt of the formula (I)

wherein ring Y represents monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, in which one —CH₂— group is substituted with —COO— group, and at least one hydrogen atom in the monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group may optionally be substituted with alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, hydroxyl group or cyano group; Q¹ and Q² each independently represent fluorine atom or perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; A⁺ represents organic counter ion; and n shows an integer of 0 to 12, which comprises reacting an ester compound of the formula (V)

wherein ring Y, Q¹, Q² and n have the same meanings as defined above, and M represents Li, Na, K or Ag, with a compound of the formula (VIII) A⁺ Z⁻  (VIII) wherein Z represents F, Cl, Br, I, BF₄, AsF₆, SbF₆ or ClO₄, and A⁺ has the same meaning as defined above.
 11. A chemically amplified resist composition comprising a salt of the formula (I)

wherein ring Y represents monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, in which one —CH₂— group is substituted with —COO— group, and at least one hydrogen atom in the monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group may optionally be substituted with alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, alkoxy group having 1 to 6carbon atom perfluoroalkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, hydroxyl group or cyano group; Q¹ and Q² each independently represent fluorine atom or perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; A⁺ represents organic counter ion; and n shows an integer of 0 to 12, and a resin which contains a structural unit having an acid-labile group and which itself is insoluble or poorly soluble in an alkali aqueous solution but becomes soluble in an alkali aqueous solution by the action of an acid.
 12. The composition according to claim 11, wherein each of Q¹ and Q² is fluorine atom or trifluoromethyl group.
 13. The composition according to claim 11, wherein the resin contains a structural unit derived from a monomer having a bulky and acid-labile group.
 14. The composition according to claim 13, wherein the bulky and acid-labile group is 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl group or 1-(1-adamantyl)-1-alkylalkyl group.
 15. The composition according to claim 13, wherein the monomer having bulky and acid-labile group is 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl(meth)acrylate, 1-(1-adamantyl-1-alkylalkyl(meth)acrylate, 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl 5-norbornene-2-carboxylate, 1-(1-adamantyl)-1-alkylalkyl 5-norbornene-2-carboxylate, 2-alkyl-2-adamantyl α-chloroacrylate or 1-(1-adamantyl)-1-alkylalkyl α-chloroacrylate.
 16. The composition according to claim 11, wherein the composition further comprises a basic compound.
 17. The composition according to claim 11, wherein A⁺ is at least one cation selected from the group consisting of the formula (IIa), the formula (IIb), the formula (IIc) and the formula (IId). A cation of the formula (IIa)

wherein P¹, P² and P³ each independently represent hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms. A cation of the formula (IIb)

wherein P⁴ and P⁵ each independently represent hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms. The formula (IIc)

wherein P⁶ and P⁷ each independently represent alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or cycloalkyl having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, or P⁶ and P⁷ bond to form divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms which forms a ring together with the adjacent S⁺, and at least one —CH₂— in the divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group is optionally substituted by —CO—, —O— or —S—, P⁸ represents hydrogen, P⁹ represents alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 3 to 12 carbon atoms or aromatic ring group optionally substituted, or P⁸ and P⁹ bond to form divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group which forms 2-oxocycloalkyl together with the adjacent —CHCO—, and at least one —CH₂— in the divalent acyclic hydrocarbon group is optionally substituted by —CO—, —O— or —S—. A cation of the formula (IId)

wherein P¹⁰, P¹¹, P¹², P¹³, P¹⁴, P¹⁵, P¹⁶, P¹⁷, P¹⁸, P¹⁹, P²⁰ and P²¹ each independently represent hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, B represents sulfur atom or oxygen atom, and m represents 0 or
 1. 18. The composition according to claim 11, wherein A⁺ is a counter ion of the formula (IIe):

wherein P²², P²³ and P²⁴ each independently represent hydrogen atom or alkyl group having 1 to 4 atoms.
 19. The composition according to claim 11, wherein the ring Y is monovalent residue of a compound shown by the formulae (IIIa), (IIIb) or (IIIc)

wherein X¹, X² and X³ each independently represent (a) alkylene group or (b) no bonding and hydrogen atom in each side, l shows an integer of 1 to 4, k shows an integer of 0 to 2, and at least one hydrogen atom in the formulae (IIIa), (IIIb) and (IIIc) may optionally be substituted with alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atom, perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, hydroxyl group or cyano group.
 20. The composition according to claim 11, wherein the salt is the one of the formula (IVa) or (IVb)

wherein P²², and P²⁴ have the same meanings as defined above. 